SUMMARY: On March 15, 2011, the European Union and the U.S. concluded an agreement on cooperation in the regulation of civil aviation safety. The agreement will enter into force on May 1, 2011.
The purpose of the agreement is to enable the reciprocal acceptance of findings of compliance and approvals, promote a high degree of safety in air transport and ensure regulatory cooperation and harmonization between the U.S. and the EU as regards airworthiness approvals and monitoring of civil aeronautical products, environmental testing and approvals of such products, and approvals and monitoring of maintenance facilities.
MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS: The purposes of the Agreement are to:
- Enable the reciprocal acceptance, as provided in the Annexes to this Agreement, of findings of compliance and approvals issued by the technical agents and aviation authorities.
- Promote a high degree of safety in air transport.
- Ensure the continuation of the high level of regulatory cooperation and harmonization between the U.S. and the European Community in the fields covered in paragraph B.
The scope of this Agreement apply to:
- Airworthiness approvals and monitoring of civil aeronautical products.
- Environmental testing and approvals of civil aeronautical products.
- Approvals and monitoring of repair stations.
AEA COMMENTARY:
The Association is pleased that this long awaited cooperative agreement has been completed and applauds the staff of both the FAA and EASA for their tenacious work in getting this agreement finalized.
This agreement is the first step necessary for the development of implementation procedures for the mutual recognition by the FAA and EASA of repair stations as well as better trans-Atlantic exchange of avionics products.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Ric Peri, AEA vice president of government and industry affairs, by email at ricp@aea.net or by phone at 202-589-1144.